Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that if US Patriot missiles are despatched to Ukraine, they might be reputable targets for Russian forces.
However he added that the US plan had not been confirmed.
Peskov was requested by CNN if he held the identical view as former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who has said that the missiles “would instantly turn out to be a reputable goal of our armed forces.”
“Definitely,” Peskov responded, in remarks later picked up by official Russian information company TASS. However he added, “I’d chorus from remark for now, although, as a result of these are simply media experiences.”
CNN reported exclusively Tuesday that the Biden administration is finalizing plans to ship the Patriot missile protection system to Ukraine, with a choice probably introduced as quickly as this week, in accordance with two US officers and a senior administration official.
The Pentagon’s plan nonetheless must be authorised by Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier than it’s despatched to President Joe Biden for his signature. The three officers advised CNN that approval is anticipated.
It’s not clear what number of missile launchers will probably be despatched, however a typical Patriot battery features a radar set that detects and tracks targets, computer systems, energy producing tools, an engagement management station and as much as eight launchers, every holding 4 ready-to-fire missiles.
As soon as the plans are finalized, the Patriots are anticipated to ship rapidly within the coming days and Ukrainians will probably be educated to make use of them at a US Military base in Grafenwoehr, Germany, officers advised CNN.
Russian officers have repeatedly stated that every one Western programs despatched to Ukraine — together with the HIMARS anti-air defenses — will probably be focused.
Ukrainian authorities have been looking for Patriot batteries for months however haven’t confirmed that the US has agreed to dispatch them. On Wednesday, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated solely {that a} assembly of the army’s Normal Workers had talked in regards to the “safety of the sky.”
“We’re always strengthening our air and anti-drone protection. And we’re doing the whole lot to get extra trendy and extra highly effective programs for Ukraine,” he stated.
CNN’s Barbara Starr contributed reporting to this publish.
